Fuel-supply system and starter for explosive-engines.



B. F. LOWRY.

FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM AND STARTER FOR EXPLOSlVE ENGINES.

' APPLIQATION FILED me. so, 1913.

1, 1 20,828, Patented Dec. 15,1914.

NZ by Witnesses Attorneym I "entrants unripe UNITED? sa aris-s BENJAMIN F. LQNRY, F AUSTIN, TEXAS.

FUEL-SU PPLY SYSTEIVI' AND STARTER FOR EXPLOSIVEENGINES.

To all whom it may concern: ,Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LOWRY,

a citizen,ofthe United States, residing at "Austin, in thecounty-of Travis and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Fuel-Supply System and-Starter for Explo- P sive-Engines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in a fueljsupply sy'snzn for explosive engines.

a An object of the-present invention is to provide a fuel supply system in which the heat of the exhaust gases will beutilized to v vaporize the "liquid fuel with which they auxiliary devices of directlycontact so that the carbureter and this character may be dispensed witli f A further object is to provide a fuel sup- ;plysystem for internal combustion engines *in which all, or a portion of the exhaust gases will lee-returned to the cylinder with a properamount of air and fuel mixed therew i .Y a

.A ;Eurther object is to provide a systemin I foiflmoife times through the cylinder so that any unburned portion thereof will upon its the exhaust gases will be passedonc second passage through the explosion cylinder. be burned and the power contained therein utilized.

f A furt he'r object is to provide a producer system supplying combustible gases 1 under pressure-to a -two cycle internalcombustion q -engine.s0 that the carbureterflmay be dispensed with and in which the explosive mixture need not be compressed in the crank case prior to its ejection into the cylinder.

A further object isfto provide a gas produc'er and supply system as above mentioned and which provides an explosive mixture whicliniay be injectedinto the cylinder for the starting thereof. a -.'With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as-the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in r the details of construction herelnafter dethatchanges in the precise embodiment of I scribed and claimed, it being understood the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Tn'the drawing accompanying this specificatlon and forming a part thereof, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 914.

s Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 309,562.

preferable embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which "The figure is a plan View of my improved apparatus comprising the fuel supply systern.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is an engine bed upon which is mounted an internal combustion engine including a cylinder 2, crank shaft 3 and fly wheel l. The engine is of the two cycle type and includes the usual allotment of valves and valve gears, the exact details of which, however, will not be treated in detail, i

The crank shaft 3 of the engine pro longed and provided with the crank arm 5 to which is secured the piston rod (3 of an 'other suitable means, should it be so de sired. It is to be noted in this connection that if the compressor be driven by gears or belts, the storage capacity of the pipe .11 will be sufficient to act as a reservoir for the exhaust gases prior to this admissioninto the compressor 7. i V

A fuel storage tank disprovidcd and is of considerable capacity and is designed. to withstand high. pressures that the mixture which is stored therein may be subjected to and maintained atrelativclyhigh pressure so that it will be properly delivered to the cylinder 2 through the inlet pipe 9. The fuel storage tank is provided with the fresh air relief valve 10 so that a safety valve will be had should the pressure within the tank arise to excessive values. The exhaust pipe 11 which leads from the cylin- .der 2 is also provided with a pressure relief i valve 12 therein s0 that-if the outlet of A pipe let valve 15 whereby the quantity of air ad .mitted may be properly regulated. A fuel inlet pipe 16 also communicates with the compressor and is controlled by the valve 17. The compressor is provided with the automatic inlet valves 18 which are ar-. ranged in front of'and control the air, fuel and exhaust gases admitted to the compressor. The storage tank inlet pipe 13 is also provided with an automatic, valve 19 and which forms a part of the compressor and takes the place of'thev ordinary outlet VZIlVO A governor 20' communicates by means of. the pipe E21v with the inlet pipe 13 of thestorage tank and is subjected to the storage tank pressures. The governor is provided with the rod 22 which contacts with and holds in dseate'd condition the automatic inlet valves 18 when the pressures within the storage tank arise above 'a predetermined value.- The governor at the same time opens the compressor to the.-

atmosphere through the valve 23 so that the compressor will not offer any great resistance to the rotation of the crank shaft 3. In this connection it is to be noted that the rod 20 is carried bythe governor QOand connects with and operates the valve 23. .As the governor is moved inwardly by the pressure exerted thereupon from the pi e 21, the rod 20 15 also moved and moves t e valve 2-3 beyond the opening in the cylinder wall which thus provides for the free temperature will volatilize the fuel and a mixture of exhaust gases, fuel and air will be stored within the tank -8 under a suitable pressure. The said gas will be delivered to the engine upon the opening of the inlet valve thereof and due to the gaseous condition of the mixture,'no carburetor will be necessary, The mixture will then be fired and the cycle of operation W' lagain occur. As each charge is fired the pressure rises until it finally reaches the desired amount, at which time the-relief valve 10 will operate and allow for the'escapement of a certain quantity of gaseous mixture from the storage tank. However, such escapement would represent a. waste of fuel and: for

which reason the governor and relief valves 12 have been provided. As the ressure approaches the desired amount, t e govma eae ernor 20 willoperate'and prevent afurtliei' v amount of fuel, air, and exhaustgases from being delivered to the tank. When the governor so operates the compressonwill be opened to the atmosphere so that air may pass into and radially therefrom= The pressure relief valve 12 provides a suitable escapement for the exhaust gases.- Thus should the exhaust gases containsome unburnt'fuel after passing through the cylinder they will in all probability be burned upon the next cycle of operation. The gas within the tank- 8 may be utilized for va rious other purposes other than the running of an engine as for instance, for

lighting or" heating purpose, if so desired. 3

It is to be noted that by providing the :7

storage tank 8 with a combustible and compressed gas, the engine may be easilystarted' by manually opening the inlet valve of the engine cylinder, allowing a quantity of. explosive gases to be ipjected therein and moving the exploding device, so that the mixture will be exploded and the, engine easily. started, or the engine may be started by merely utilizing the compression of the gases within the storage -tankf8 similar to an ordinary air compression starter.

' The engine has been illustrated with one cylinder, but it is to be understood thatthe system herein disclosed can be used with multi-cylinder engines. V 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is ll A fuel supply'system includin an internal combustion'engiiie, a fuel i ct communicating therewith and an exhaust outlet leading therefrom, a' storage tank communicatingwith the said engine fuel inlet, a compressor communicating with and adapted to deliver compressed gases to said'storage tank, said engine exhaust outlet com-- municating with said compressor, fuel and air pipes communicating with said com pressor, a pressure relief valve communicatin with said exhaust pipe,'and a governor 'cohtrolling the pressure within said storage tank. s

'2. A fuel supply} system including an internal combustion engine, a fuel inlet communicating therewith and an exhaust out: let leading therefrom, a storagetank communicating with the said ,enginelsfiuel inlet, a compressor communicating with'and adapted to deliver compressed gas to said storage ta n k,,.said engine-exhaustoutlet communieating with said compressor, fuel and air pipes communicating with said compressor, a pressure relief valve communicating with said exhaust pipe, a. governor controlling the pressure withinv said storage tank, and a pressure relief valve communicating with said storage tank. v p v 3. An apparatus including an internal combustion engine; "a compressor, and a storage tank, the outlet of said compressor and With the inlet of said engine, the exhaust of said engine communicating with the inlet of said compressor, air and fuel pipes communicating with the inlet oisaid compressor, automatic valves controlling the inlet and outlet of said compressor, and a governor controlled by and communicating with the said tank, said governor engaging the compressor inlet valves adapted to,hold the same in a seated position, and means for relieving the-exhaust pressure of said engine when the governor has closed the outlet thereof.

l. An apparatus of comprising an internal a compressor mechanically connected thereto and with the piston thereof in opposite phase relation with the piston of the said the class described combustion .engine,

said tank communicating with engine, a fuel storage tank communicating with the inlet of the engine and with the out let of the compressor, engine communicating with the inlet of Said compressor, air and fuel supply pipes communicating with the inlet of said compressor, a pressure relief valve disposed in the engine exhaust pipe,j and a governor communicating with the said tank adapted to close the said air-,fuel and exhaust pipes and to open said compressor -t0-the atmosphere.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of tWo' Witnesses.-

BENJA N F. Lov'vRje Witnesses: v V V I A. F. Loom-mar,- PIERRE BREMQND,

the exhaust of said. 

